Sunday, July 20, 2008
You can hug me...
Tonight as I was getting ready for bed I heard some screaming outside. I can never be sure if it's a real scream or a fake scream until I check things out to make sure everything is ok. I was wearing my glasses, crazy polka dotted pajama pants and my hair was up in a bun, but I didn't want to waste time fixing myself up if the screaming was someone getting hurt for real. I opened my door and saw many of the same boys who were running towards the fight a few nights earlier. But this time they were play fighting. That same anger that I felt the night before rose up in me again and I yelled at them and told them to knock it off. In a respectful way, their response was, "But we were just playing." I said, "I don't care, the other night wasn't playing and it could turn into a real fight!" One of the boys helped me out and told them, "She said quit fighting ya'll." All of them listened except for one boy who kind of got an attitude with me. As the boys walked away, I saw one boy who I have a good relationship with, I'll call him Ernest. I told him that I was concerned about the hardness that I have seen on him lately. He hangs out with the other boy who claims a gang and I asked him if he is being influenced by him. He said no and that they hang out because they have been friends since he was 3 yrs. old. I told him, "Ernest, I care about you so much and I know that you have a tender heart. There is nothing wrong with a boy having a tender heart. In fact, God LOVES it when we have a tender heart, especially towards him. It doesn't seem like you are usually influenced by others, but lately it seems like you're letting other people affect you. I miss seeing you at the teen ministry and I would like to see you around more often. Stop by anytime, ok. I would give you a hug, but I don't want to embarrass you in front of your friends." Then he said the words that melted my heart. He said, "You can hug me," and slightly reached out his arms. It was as if he was just waiting for a hug. Now, don't forget, I have my crazy polka dotted pj's on and my hair in a bun. Not only that, but the whole time I was talking to him, his friends were standing about 20 ft. away saying, "Come on Ernest let's go," but he didn't care if he looked un-cool giving me a hug at that moment. These kids need so much love and as I give it to them, it always comes back around and they end up loving on me. I am so thankful to God for moments like these that He LOVES on me through these kids and makes me feel so special.
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